Convertible container



' Filed May '7, 1963 June 8, 1965 G. E. sTRuBLE 3,187,976

CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet l l2 l o si; im Q nl" M ,//66 /olos /loe lo se`/ 7a 56 sg FIG! E umh.,

INVENT OR F/GIZ GLENN E. STRUBLE BY MRL @Hoc/ 5 /f-"wd' ATTORNEY June 8,1965 G. E. srRuBLE 3,187,975-

` CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER Filed May 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

rNvgNroR GLENN E. STRUBLE BY /WQRL C4.) l/LoclfsY- United States PatentO 3,187,976 CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, hio,assignor to Diamond International Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,662 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) Thisinvention relates generally to containers formed from paperboard or thelike, and more particularly to an improved shipping container.

Conventional sealed-end or tuck-end cartons generally serve the purposeof enclosing and protecting an article; however, the article per segenerally cannot be readily examined by the purchaser. When thepurchaser decides to examine the article, the conventional sealed-endcarton is at times damaged and this is undesirable as far as saleabilityof the item is concerned.

Additionally, due to pilferage, for example, conventional tuck-endcartons may be opened during transit and the article removed, withoutany apparent damage to the tuck-end carton, and thus it cannot bereadily determined when the article was removed.

A primary object of the present invention is to `provide a novelshipping container which may be readily loaded on automatic equipment,which comprises a pilfer-proof shipper to be ultimately opened by aretailer, which combines the advantages of a tube-type carton duringshipping, which may be readily converted into a display tray for thepurpose of exposing the article for purposes of examination by theultimate consumer, and, which, if opened, such opening will be readilyapparent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelconvertible container which includes a rectangular tray detachablyconnected to a tubular top section having exposed opened ends, oralternatively having sealed ends.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel blank foraffording a convertible container.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant inventionwill be apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the novel blank of the nvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view inverted 180 with respect to FIG. 1,V showing arst step of assembly of a container from another embodiment of a blanksimilar to FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of FIG. 2, showing the next step of assembly ofthe convertible container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View illustrating `a iinal manipulative step forcompleting assembly of the container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the manner in which acontainer is erected from the blank of FIG. l after it has beenassembled; and showing the end closure liaps to form a sealed-endcontainer; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with an intermediate portion of the bottomtray broken away, and showing the manner in which the container isconverted.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIG. I, aone-piece blank produced from paperboard or the like is indicatedgenerally at 10 and comprises a tray-forming section indicated generallyat 12 and a stopforming section indicated generally at 14.

The tray-forming section 12 comprises a rectangular bottom wall panel t6hingedly connected by mutually 3,187,976 Patented June 8, 1965 ICCparallel fold lines 18 and 20 to elongated, side wall panels 22 and 24,respectively. The bottom wall panel 16 has hingedly connected to theupper and lower ends thereof at mutually parallel fold lines 26 and 28,rectangular end wall panels 30 and 32, respectively, which are of thesame height as the side wall panels 22 and 24.

Hingedly connected to opposite ends of the side wall panels 22 and 24 onfold lines 34, 36 and 38, 40, which are respectively colinear with thefold lines 26 and 28, respectively, are glue ap or closure tabs 42, 44and 46, 48. These tabs (not shown) could, if desired, be connected tothe end wall panels 3i) and 32.

Hingedly connected on a fold line 50, parallel to fold lines 18 and 20,is a tirst auxiliary side wall panel 52 which is of substantially thesame width as the side wall panel 22 and which terminates at oppositeends in upper and lower margins 54, 56 substantially colinear with thefold or hinge lines 26, 34, 36 and 28, 38, 40, respectively.

The blank shown in FIG. 1, has the outer surface thereof exposed, i.e.,that surface upon which advertising indicia, for example, will beapplied. Preferably, although `other adhesive means may be used, theouter surface of the auxiliary side wall panel 52 will be suitablyvarnished or inked and have formed thereon longitudinally spacedadhesive areas 58 preferably formed by a circular cut line 6l). The cutline 60 extends partially into the paperboard or the like of the blank,and permits subsequent ready separation of the circular portion of thetopforming section 14 which will subsequently be adhered thereto.

` Hingedly connected to the side wall panel 24 on a fold line 62,parallel to the fold lines 18, 20 and 50, is a second auxiliary sidewall panel 64 which includes opposite end margins 66 and 68,respectively, substantially colinear with fold lines 26, 34, 36 and 38,28, 40, and end margins 54 and 56 of the first auxiliary panel 52.

The top-forming section 14 comprises a rectangular top w'all panel 70having hingedly connected thereto on mutually 'parallel fold lines '72and 74 side wall panels 76 and 7S, respectively. The side wall panel 76is hingedly connected to the second auxiliary side wall panel of thetray-forming section 12 at severable segments 80 formed by aninterrupted cut line 82 parallel to the fold lines 18, 20, 5l) and 62.Although the top-forming section is indicated as being connected to thetray-forming section by means of the severable segments between theauxiliary side wall panel 64 and side wall panel 76 of the top-formingsection, other comparable means such as a weakened4 score line, etc.,may be used.

The side wall panels 76 and 78 have conveniently formed therein suitablecut portions 84 and 86 for forming apertures to receive ones lingerstherein; see FIG. 6, whereby the top section may be readily removed fromthe tray section as will be subsequently described in detail.

In the .preferred embodiments, the top panel 70, and flanking side wallpanels 76 and 78 have at their lower ends colinear margins or edges 88,and 92, respectively, which are colinear with the previously mentionedmargins 56 and 68, and fold or hinge lines 28, 38 and 40. The tubulartop may be formed, when the carton is assembled, with opened endsolsetinwardly at an angle from the end of the tray ultimately formed(not shown).

The upper ends of the panels 70, 76 and 78 have an upper margin (seeFIGS. l and 5) colinear with fold lines 26, 34 and 36 and end margins 54and 66, and when ener/,ere

margin 106 coinciding with margin 100 of the side wally panel 76, andthe panel 70 has formed at the upper end a margin 108 coinciding withthe previously mentioned margins 100 and 106. Further, a closure ap 110is hingedly connected to the margin 108 at the upper end of the top wallpanel 70. The fold or hinge lines 72 and 74 extend up to the margins 100and 1116.

The side wall panel 78 has longitudinal spaced therealong glue spots 116preferably formed by cut lines 118 partially extending into thepaperboard of the blank. As will subsequently become apparent, duringthe description of the assembly of the shipping container, the gluespots 116 will coincide or be in juxtaposed relation with respect to theglue spots 58 of the first auxiliary side wall panel 52, to permit readyseparation of the container top-forming section 14 from the tray-formingsection 12 of the shipping container that is ultimately assembled.

Assembly f shipping container Referring'frst to FIG. 2, a blankg-enerally similar to that of FIG. 1 1s inverted to expose the surfaceopposite that shown in FIG. 1, i.e., the inner surface of the shippingcontainer is exposed. The first auxiliary side wall panel 52 is foldedon fold line 50 into juxtaposed and preferably secured relation to theinner surface of the side wall panel 22. Further, the second auxiliaryside wall panel 64 is folded over and preferably secured to the innersurface of the side wall panel 24; it being noted that the severablesegments 36 will now be disposed adjacent the fold line 20.

The shipping container can be readily end loaded on conventionalapparatus.

As seen in FIG. 3, the panels 70 and 78 are maintained in substantiallycoplanar relationship, and folded together along the fold line 74 sothat the side margin 120 of panel 78 is disposed substantially adjacentand parallel t-o the free edge 122 of the second `auxiliary side wallpanel 52. It will'be observed that the glue spots 116 are not exposed orfacing upwardly as clearly seen in FIG. 3.

Considering FIG. 4, the panels 70 and 78 will be in coplanarrelationship and juxtaposed on the bottom wall panel 16 of thetray-forming section, andthe side wall panel 76 of the top-formingsection. The juxtaposed rst auxiliary side wall panel 52, which overliesthe side wall panel 22, wi-ll now be folded at fold line 18 and the gluespots 58 will be juxtaposed on the glue spots 116. As previouslymentioned, one manner of permitting separation of the top-formingsection 14 from the tray-forming section 12 is to provide cut linesaround the glue spots 58 and 116; however, other comparable expedientshaving the same function may be utilized.

When the shipping container is erected in the manner just described, itis in a folded condition suitable for being packed 1'n suitable shippingcartons to be subsequently erected in the establishment manufacturing orpackaging the articles to be contained in the convertible containers.

Referring to FIG. 5, the shipping container is erected by pivoting theside wall panels 76 and 'i8 from the position shown in FIG. 4 90 or atright angles with respect to the bottom wall panel 16, to dispose thetop wall panel 70 of the top-forming section parallel to the bottompanel 1'6.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the panel 70 havingclosure flaps 104 and 110, indicated in FIG. 5, formed thereon aspreviously described, and after the shipping container has been illedwith a bottle of liquor,

hair tonic, etc., these end closure flaps are positioned in overlyingrelationship with respect to the tube which had been formed by thepanels 76, 7@ and 78. The ilaps 194 and 116, however, as mentionedabove, may be eliminated Iand the end margins at the end of the twoformed by panels 76, 70 and 73 may have indented margins (as shown inFIG. 2).

Thereafter, the closure flaps 36, 42 and 44 may be adhesively secured toeach other, see FiG. 6, for example, and a package is then formed aboutthe article in the shipping container.

As clearly Seen in FIG. 6, when the carton i's received at the retailer,the top `forming section 14 may be readily removed due to the severablesegments 81D at the cut line 2 between the second auxiliary side wallpanels 64, and the adhesive spots S-S and 116 which are formed by thecut lines 6ft and 118, respectively.

The tray-forming section ultimately formed into the tray shown in FIG.6, will have double thickness si'de walls substantially reinforcing thesame, and the end flaps 42, 44 and 46, 4S will respectively reinforcethe end walls 31) and 32. The top-forming section Vor tube-formingsection 14 may be readily pulled off of the tray as indicated byinserting fingers in the openings formed by cuts 34 and 6 as shown inFIG. 6. Y

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limite to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece blank for forming a tubular container convertibile into ashallow tray comprising an integral, planar element including atray-forming section, and a top-forming section hingedly and detachablyconnected to one -side of sal'd tray-forming section, said tray-formingsection comprising a rectangular bottom wall panel bordered by hingedlyconnected, opposed pairs of side and end wall panels hingedly connectedto attaching aps, auxiliary side wall panels hingedly connected to saidpair of side wall panels on fold lines parallel to the hingedconnections thereof with sai'd bottom panel, said topforming sectionbeing hingedly connected to one edge of one of said auxiliary panels ona fold line parallel to the hinge connection thereof with said bottompanel.

2. A blank as set forth in claim 1 in which said topforming sectioncomprises a plurality of panels hingedly connected on mutually parallelfold lines.

3. A blank as set forth in claim 2 in which said topforming sectionincludes end closure flaps hingedly connected to at least one of thepanels thereof.

4. A blank as set forth in claim 2 1n which said trayforming sectioncomprises a rectangular bottom wall panel bordered by hingedlyconnected, opposed pairs of side and end wall panels and attachingflaps, auxiliary side wall panels hingedly connected to saidpair of sidewall panels on fold lines parallel to the hinged connections thereofwith sai'd bottom wall panel, said top-forming section being hingedlyconnected to one edge of one of said auxiliary panels on a fold lineparallel to the hinge connection thereof with said bottom panel.

5. A blank as set forth in claim 4 in which the other of said auxiliaryside wall panels and one of said topforming section panels includeadhesive receiving portions for adhering to each other when thecontainer is assembled. Y

6. A convertible container for conversion into a low display traycomprising a low, shallow rectangular tray including vertical, opposedpairs of side and end walls connected to a bottom panel, and anopen-ended top-forming section comprising at least a top wall panel anda pair of depending side wall panels detachably connected at loweropposite side margins only to the side walls of said low, shallowrectangular tray sidewalls and extending ver- 5 tically above the uppermargins of said side and end walls, said tray including auxiliary panelsjuxtaposed on the inner surface of said side walls, said tray-formingsection being detachably connected only to said auxiliary panels.'

7. A convertible container as set forth in claim 6 in which one of saiddepending side Walls is detachably connected to one of said auxiliarywall panels on a tear line adjacent said tray bottom panel, the other ofsaid section panels being detachably connected to saidV other auxiliarypanel.

8. A convertible container as set forth in claim 6 1n which saidtop-forming section includes closure aps at opposite ends thereof,removably disposed adjacent the end walls of said tray.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,085 4/ 39Bergstein. 2,474,523 6/49 Guyer 229-43 2,521,184 9/50 Paige 206-45.342,681,141 6/54 Young 206--4534 3,027,998 4/ 62 Ridgway 20G-445.34

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. A ONE-PIECE BLANK FOR FORMING A TUBULAR CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO ASHALLOW TRAY COMPRISING AN INTEGRAL, PLANAR ELEMENT INCLUDING ATRAY-FORMING SECTION, AND A TOP-FORMING SECTION HINGEDLY AND DETACHABLYCONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID TRAY-FORMING SECTION, SAID TRAY-FORMINGSECTION COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM WALL PANEL BORDERED BY HINGEDLYCONNECTED, OPPOSED PAIRS OF SIDE AND END WALL PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTEDTO ATTACHING FLAPS, AUXILIARY SIDE WALL PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOSAID PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS ON FOLD LINES PARALLEL TO THE HINGEDCONNECTIONS THEREOF WITH SAID BOTTOM PANEL, SAID TOP FORMING SECTIONBEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ONE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID AUXILIARY PANELS ONA FOLD LINE PARALLEL TO THE HINGE CONNECTION THEREOF WITH SAID BOTTOMPANEL.